Dust mop cleaner



y 1939- A. MCMILLAN 2,158,470

DUST MOP CLEANER Filed April 18, 1938 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to dust receptacles and the like, and more especially to an improved receptacle for receiving dust shaken from a mop.

It is commonly the practice among housewives to shake mops from windows, whereby various unsanitary conditions frequently arise.

Furthermore, it is difiicult to properly clean a mop indoors, inasmuch as, in shaking the dust from the mop, there is a normal tendency for the material removed from the mop to be dispersed through the air, and thence, through the room.

It is one of the more important objects of the present invention to provide a dust receptacle, through use of which, a mop can be shaken and cleaned indoors, and the dust removed therefrom in a clean and sanitary manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container adapted to restrict the travel of dust particles shaken from a dust mop or the like, and collect the dust for subsequent convenient removal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel dust receptacle of the type indicated, wherein means are included for closing a cover around a mop or the like, thereby substantially completely encompassing the mop, but without preventing free shaking thereof.

One of the important advantages of the novel device according to the present invention is that it comprises relatively few parts, each of which is simple and rugged in construction, thereby facilitating economies of manufacture and repair.

One of the features of the novel dust receptacle, according to the present invention is that it is well suited to receive mops of different sizes, shapes and forms.

Other objects, features and advantages of the novel dust receptacle according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the novel dust receptacle according to the present invention comprises a horizontally positioned, supported, essentially cylindrical container, closed at the ends and open along the top, the opening being bounded by lines essentially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical casing, and a cover for said opening, said cover comprising a curved sheet of material rotatable about an axis coincidental with the axis of the cylindrical casing, said cover being adapted upon occasion to substantially completely close said opening and seal said casing, except for a relatively small opening, defined by cut-away portions in the edge of said cover and in the edge of said casing adjacent said opening, for receiving a mop handle or the like, extending from a mop positioned within said casing.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment is given solely by example and is non-limitative.

Referring then to the drawing:

Figure 1 is substantially a side elevational view of the now preferred embodiment of the present invention, partially in section with parts broken away for clearness.

Figure 2 is substantially an end elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the device showing the cover in opened position, and with certain parts broken away for clearness.

In the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, the device generally designated by the numeral Ill, comprises a substantially cylindrical casing member H, held in essentially horizontal position by means including supports, generally designated by the numeral I2. Said supports each comprises a U-shaped bent wire frame, substantially fixedly attached to cross pieces I3, and having upwardly extending ends I4, said ends being receivable in brackets l5, mounted on the cylindrical casing ends Hi.

It is to be understood that upon occasion, the end portions 14 can be removed from the brackets l5, for purpose of dismantling the apparatus.

The substantially cylindrical casing member H has an opening formed in the top therein, said opening being defined by a pair of radially spaced lines, disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical casing. A cover member I! carried on the supporting brace I8 is adapted to substantially completely obstruct the opening in the cylindrical casing, and is rotatable about an axis, coincidental with the axis of the casing, by means of the pivots 20, mounted in the centers of the end portions of the casing substantially as shown in the drawing.

Stops 2! mounted on the casing II and engageable with the cover l1, serve to limit the rotative movement of said cover and to hold the same in closed position: stops 22 limit rotative movement of the cover in the opposite direction, and hold it when it is in opened position.

An opening 25, defined by curved cut-away portions formed in the edge portions 26 and 21 of the cover I! and of the substantially cylindrical casing member II respectively, is adapted to receive a mop handle as will be hereinafter described.

To facilitate rotation of the cover I! from closed to opened position, a lever arm 29 is substantially fixedly attached to a portion of the brace l8, and is provided with a handle 30 on the end thereof, substantially as shown.

To facilitate carrying of the device, a handle 3| is provided, mounted in brackets 32 attached to the cover l1, and normally located near the top of the device when the cover is in closed position.

A dust receptacle generally designated by the numeral 40, comprises a box-like structure 4|, open on one side and frictionally engageable with a projecting flanged formation 42 of the cylindrical casing II. It is preferred that the projecting flanged edge portions 44 of the casing portion 42 bebent. inwardly, substantially as shown in Figure 1, to facilitate engagement of the dust receptacle 4| therewith.

Spring clips 45, mounted on the casing portion 42, engage with depressions formed in the sides of the receptacle 4|, thereby facilitating holding said, receptacle. in, cooperative engagement with the casing. A handle 46 mounted on the bottom of the receptacle 4| is provided to facilitate removal of said receptacle from engagement with the casing, emptying of the receptacle and replacement. It will be seen that dust, or the like, Within the casing II will normally, at least tend to move into the dust receptacle 4|.

In use, the cover IT is moved into opened position and rested in the stop 22 by manipulation of the. handle 30. A mop is then positioned within the receptacle with the handle of said mop resting on the cut-away portion 21 of the edge of the casing. The cover in the casing is then closed by imparting movement to the handle 30, whereby the cut-away portion 26 of the edge of the cover is disposed adjacent the cut-away portion 21 of the edge of the casing.

A mop is then shaken and the dust falling therefrom, confined within the casing, falls into the receptacle H, wherefrom it can be subsequently removed at the users convenience.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described, and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as,

expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1.. A, device of the type described, useful in cleaning of mops and the like, comprising a horizontally supported substantially cylindrical casing having an opening formed in the top thereof extending along at least a major portion of the-length thereof, the sides of said opening being defined by lines in radially spaced parallelism relative to the casing axis; a U-shaped bracket, pivoted at its ends to end parts of said casing near the centers thereof, substantially freely rotatable about the exterior of said casing in spaced relationship thereto; a cover for said opening, mounted on and rotatable with said U- shaped bracket, said cover being curved and substantially conforming in shape and outline to said opening in said casing, adjacent edges of said cover and said casing being provided With cut-away formations cooperating to de fine an opening for a mop handle; and means for collecting dust and the like from within said casing.

2. A device of the type described, useful in cleaning of mops and the like, comprising a supported horizontally positioned substantially cylindrical casing; having a top opening extending along at least a major portion of the length thereof, the sides of said opening being defined by lines in radially spaced parallelism relative to the axis of said casing; a U-shaped bracket pivoted at its ends to end parts of said casing near the centers thereof and substantially freely rotatable about the exterior of said casing in spaced relationship thereto; a cover for said opening, mounted on and rotatable with said U-shaped bracket, said cover being curved and substantially conforming in shape and outline to said opening in said casing; stops, mounted on said casing, engageabl With parts of said cover, whereby rotative movement of said cover with respect to said casing is limited, and said cover, can be held in closed or, upon occasion, opened position with respect to said opening; adjacent edges of said cover and said casing being provided with cut-away formations cooperating to define an opening for a mop handle; and means for collecting dust and the like from within said casing.

3. A device of the type described, useful in cleaning ofv mops and the like, comprising a horizontally supported substantially cylindrical casing having a top opening extending along at least a major portion of the length thereof, the sides of said opening being defined by lines in radially spaced substantial parallelism relative to the axis of said casing; a U-shaped bracket pivoted at its ends to central parts of the ends of said casing, rotatable about the exterior of said casing in spaced relationship thereto; a cover for said Opening, carried on said bracket, said cover being curved and substantially conforming in shape and outline to said opening in said casing; stops, mounted on said casing, engaging with said cover to limit rotation thereof, whereby said cover can be held in opened or, upon occasion, closed position relative to said opening; adjacent edges of said cover and said casing being provided with cut-away formations cooperating to define an opening for a mop handle; means for facilitating rotative movement of said cover with respect to said casing, comprising a radially extending lever and handle mounted on said rotatable U-shaped bracket; and means for collecting dust and the like from within said casing.

ALFRED McMILLAN. 

